May 2020 Wednesday Study Questions

May 6: A Lenten Challenge

1. Have you ever been given a challenge to express your faith like today’s writer was?  If so, how did your experience change the way you think about your faith?  If not, would you ever consider participating in something like this?
2. How do you express your faith?  How do those expressions of faith enrich your life and the lives of those around you?
3. Have you ever felt as if you were unable to follow God because you didn’t have the time or the money?  When you are distracted by the busyness of life, who or what helps you to regain your focus on serving God?
4. What outreach ministries does your church offer, and how do you participate?  What new ministries do you think your church should start?
5. Do you try to maintain your Lenten disciplines all year, or is it good to have certain practices for certain seasons?  Why?

May 13: Trust Through Prayer

1. Describe a time when you have witnessed the power of prayer.  How did that experience affect your faith?  If the situation had resolved differently, would your faith have been affected in a different way?  Why or why not?
2. What scripture passages remind you of the importance of prayer?  How do those verses encourage you as you pray?
3. Do you always trust in God when you pray?  Do you ever pray without fully trusting?  What helps strengthen your trust in God?
4. Describe a time when you prayed and received a seemingly impossible result or a time when you prayed and did not receive the answer you were hoping for.  How did you feel?  How did you maintain your faith during this time?
5. In what ways can you support someone who has received an unwanted outcome to prayer?  What encouragement can you offer to someone who is currently struggling to pray?

May 20: On Assignment

1. Have you ever thought, like today’s writer, that mission statements are only for corporations?  What do you think of the idea that you can write a personal mission statement?  What would your mission statement be?
2. Do you ever struggle with staying focused spiritually?  If not, how do you avoid distractions?  If so, do you think a mission statement would help you?  What other practices might be beneficial?
3. What spiritual practices help you to listen to God?  If you already know what assignment God has given you, how did you discern it?  How does having an assignment change the way you live out your faith?
4. Name some biblical characters who had a clear mission and remained focused.  Which biblical characters did not remain true to their mission?
5. How does your church encourage you to find your spiritual mission?  In what ways can you encourage others to do the same?

May 27: A Change of Heart

1. When have you had a change of heart?  Describe the situation and how it affected you.  Did you share your change of heart with others?  How did they respond?
2. Share your thoughts about cross-cultural churches or communities.  In what ways can you work to be more open to leaders and community members who are different from you?
3. Today’s writer is encouraged by remembering that we fulfill God’s ministry when we meet others “heart to heart in Christ’s love.”  What does this mean to you?  In what ways can you be more intentional about connecting with others?
4. When have you been in a situation in which you felt unable to minister to others?  What obstacles prevented you from ministering to them?  What prayers, scripture passages, spiritual practices, or people helped you find strength in the situation?
5. Where do you see cultural differences in your church, community, and the world? Name some examples of stories or people who have embraced differences and strengthened their community by doing so.  What hope or inspiration do you draw from these examples?